IN THE CAGE

151. MONDAY

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

"Listen to me, Evan. Today, Ace will attack us. War will happen. The situation here will be very dangerous."

On Monday morning, Max placed both hands on Evan's shoulders. He delivered his speech with seriousness and decisiveness. In response to Max's remark right then and there, Evan nodded and looked into Max's eyes full of determination.

"I know, that's why I've prepared myself." Evan already knew that sooner or later the situation would become like this. Therefore, he was not afraid at all of death that was likely to greet.

As long as he was by his father's side, Evan felt he was capable of anything. He will not let Ace win after making his family miserable, not after he got rid of Indira. Evan was already determined to avenge himself in this battle field.

"German..." Max presses Evan's shoulder, calling for the full attention of his son. "I don't want you here."

"Huh?"

"This fight will take many lives. I don't want you involved in it. As you know, this problem was started by my greed, so let me solve it all. For a while, go with Theo out of the country for a few years, just the"

"Dad!" Evan cut the sassy. He brushed Max's hand off his shoulder. "I don't.., I don't want to run away. I'm not a coward."

"Dad knows you're not a coward, Evan. This is not the time to prove yourself. It's about survival. You are precious to me, if you get hurt and die here, any victory will mean nothing. I want you to live a long life and pass on Caspian's name to the next generation. I want you to be happy."

Evan took a step back from Max's hand range. "I can't. I don't want to, Dad. Do you think I can be happy if I lose it all?"

"Evan, prioritize yourself. Remember what you told you?" Max smiled softly. "You're the king on my chessboard. It's my job to protect you, Evan."

'But who will protect you?' Evan asked about it in his heart. For God's sake, Evan just wants Max to stop seeing him as a fragile and vulnerable figure, Evan wants Max to see him as a reliable figure. He's Max's brilliant son, he's supposed to protect Max from all threats.

"Evan," said Max once again. "Do this for Dad. Please..."

Go safely and be happy.

Go awayl.

...----------------...

Margaret Hunter smiled broadly as she sauntered down the stairs to the car parked in front of her porch. Down there, Jack Hunter greets Margot with a witty flick.

"Someone seems very happy today." Jack scolds Margot. While watching his nephew as well, Jack opened the car door for him.

"It is impossible to be unhappy when the things I want are in sight."

"I hope all the problems that have happened so far will end today." Jack guides Margot into the car before catching up with the woman in the same car.

"Everything will end today" Margot said after she and Jack were in the car. "Ace has promised me that today, I will be free from all my grudges."

"That's good," said Jack later. "I'm relieved that we have Ace."

"Mm, even though I hate the fact I'm incapable of acting this far without her, I also feel relieved she's been by our side all along." The Ace in Margot's eyes was the strongest weapon.

Although Harkin lashes out at Margot for moving away from Ace and saying that his sister is a monster, Margot has no choice but to draw Ace into her personal agenda. 

Initially, Margot thought Harkin's words were only the fruit of her hatred for Ace who would not obey him. However, after witnessing how Ace has been leading Diamond for years, Margot realizes that her sister is not a weapon she can control at all.

Even now, despite Margot's advantage to take revenge on Caspian's side, Margot realizes that her and Ace's goals are not in line. Ace-rather than wanting Maximillian's head on the table, wants something crazier.

Ace wants absolute leadership over the Clubs. If he manages to get rid of Max, then all of Max and Evan's power will be easily diverted towards him. Ace will be the only pawn that stays on the table. He will be king.

Not just Clubs, Fawn too...

"Uncle, what's your view on Ace all this time?" Margot turned back to her uncle. He noticed how Jack's expression stiffened slightly as the question greeted the ears.

"He's a man you don't want to make an enemy of, Mar." Jack chimed in while improving his sitting posture.

After receiving an answer from Jack as well, the journey towards the Caspian residence became as calm as the ocean. Margot was again immersed in her thoughts as Jack threw his gaze out the window - watching the road he was walking through, the vehicles he was in dispute with, and watching for himself the faint reflection of his face on the windowpanes.

'After this matter is over, I will disappear!' it was a determination firmly planted in Jack Hunter's chest. He had witnessed many terrible things and deviated from his nephew, Jack thought he would contract madness if he stayed longer beside them.

Not only Ace, Margot and her ambition were other terrible things from the Hunter residence.

'Harkin oh Harkin, what do you and your wife crave when you bring two monsters born to this earth?'

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Ace got off the car with a pistoldi hand. Carcel and Ozan lead in front of him like a shield. Both of them carried machine guns that were idle in the arm. Just then, all the bodyguards that followed Ace in different cars descended and scattered as instructed.

Not long after Ace got out of the car with his troops, the sound of a gun eruption greeted them. Within seconds of the blast greeting one of Ace's men in the front formation, a firefight ensued.

Although Ace is protected by Carcel and Ozan, he does not hide himself. On several occasions, Ace advanced forward and eliminated the incoming attackers from inside the mansion. Thanks to the machine guns Carcel carries, getting rid of those who arrive is not a difficult thing. In one swipe, the hail of bullets shattered the Caspian family's defensive formation.

Ace managed to press forward his troops and brought more bodyguards to appear following him from behind. Yeah, they're the ones Jack's been grooming as backup.

"I thought you said Max would give up..." Jack appears behind Ace and shoots several times over the balcony, towards the three men who are already their obstacles towards the main terrace. Ace hides behind a pillar with Jack. Carcel and Ozan took turns to attack the balcony.

Some of Ace's men fell in the front yard, the scent of blood mingled with the smell of gunpowder.

Because of their position as attackers, breaking down Caspian's defense is not easy. In this position, the Caspian family still has the advantage because they know this place better than Ace. They know the best position to counter-attack.

"He's going to give up" Ace said calmly.

"Eitherway. This is not like the actions of people who give up. He slaughtered some of my men on the front."

"It won't last long" Ace murmured as he stared at the watch in his hand.

"Is Haru in position?" Ace turned to Ozan who was leaning beside him.

"He's in, Boss."

"Good, then..." Ace looked at his watch closely. To the needle that slowly drove towards the number 5 and...Boom up!!!

The second-floor balcony suddenly exploded, flying the three snipers hiding there and executing them instantly. Jack who was leaning on the pillar instantly came out from hiding. He stared at the balcony in shock, and was more surprised to see Haru there, waving his hand as a safe gesture.

"When is he...?" Jack did not expect the silly-looking young bodyguard to be able to infiltrate inside without being caught.

"I didn't make him a bodyguard in my house for no reason" Ace said. 

Ace came out of hiding and headed for the front porch of the Caspian residence filled with falling bodies and blood flowing freely on the black marble floor. Just then, when he managed to enter with Jack beside him, someone appeared and greeted them.

"Welcome, Mr. Arcelio." It is the greeting of the figure who came out from behind the stairs.

"For a long time no see, Rishan." Ace grinned thinly. He greeted Evan's personal assistant with a friendly look full of falsehoods. "Where's Evan?"

"Mr Evan had already left the Mansion an hour ago."

"Ah," Ace nodded. "What about Max?"

"He's waiting for you at the green house." Rishan opened the room for Ace and allowed the man to pass by.

"How many attackers are there inside?" Ace asked again. "Have you gotten rid of them all?"

Rishan nodded thinly. "I've only done a part of it, Haru takes credit for the sweeping inside."

"Good work, you two."

While Ace and Rishan exchange talk, Jack follows them with his forehead raised next to his. Was it his feelings alone or did Rishan obey Ace like obeying his own master? What the hell is going on here? No..., what is not-don't...?

"Good work has changed that wine, Rishan. Thanks to you, I can continue my mission to this stage." Ace's speech is like an answer to Jack's confusion. So, the figure who had already betrayed Evan from within was this man? The man who was Evan Caspian's right hand man? When did Ace conquer it?

"Because I've worked so hard, I hope you don't forget your promise to me." Rishan stopped stepping when Ace finally arrived in front of the Green House. The glass doors that surrounded the room showed Maximillian's presence there. The man sat alone with a cup of tea accompanying him.

"Just calm down, unlike your previous boss, I'm not the guy who will pull my own words. I'll give you 20 percent of my shares."

A smile rose on Rishan's face. "I really appreciate it. Then.., please come in."

"Is it safe inside?" Carcel asked a question one last time.

"There's only Mr. Max inside. I've removed the entire bodyguard."

"What about Theo?"

"He went to accompany Mr. Evan."

"Alright," Ace knot finally. "Uncle Jack, I need you to tell David and Vera to bring Margot here right now."

After giving the order to Jack, Ace opened the door to the green house. The room with shady trees brought a shady and comfortable atmosphere. The scent of leaves and flowers wafted in the air, Ace took his breath in discomfort as the sharp scent of camellia flowers growing there pierced his sense of smell.

Sucks, Ace hates the pungent scent of plants.

"Welcome, Ace." Amidst his uneasiness in the plants that protrude here and there, Ace hears Maximillian's friendly voice greeting him.

"You greeted me spectacularly outside, I thought you would continue to show wild welcome. But, what's with this flower garden?"

"As a leader, I shouldn't back down so easily, should I?"

"So you're wasting your bodyguard's life on some sort of imaging?"

Max smiled wryly. "Thank you that was my last attempt at survival. Who knows if I could have gotten rid of you in the process. Though the reality is a little different than I expected."

"Unlike you, I don't like wasting my bodyguard's life" Ace said. "Seeing you're wasting your life out there, don't you have the slightest concern for workers who will clear their tracks?"

Ace sat across from Max's desk and looked around the greenhouse. Carcel and Ozan circled the room for a bit, inspecting each corner for absolute security.

"I'm surprised you care about other people, Ace."

"If I didn't care, I wouldn't have them hanging by my side." Ace basically appreciates the life of each of his bodyguards. He does not like extermination for no reason.

"So, are you going to end my life here?" Max folded his hand on the table. "If you're gonna do it, I want you to make sure you promise not to touch Evan again, Ace."

"I will not withdraw my words" Ace said. "I'm not going to kill him."

"All right, if so. What else are you waiting for? I give you the freedom to get rid of me now, Arcelio Hunter."

"Wait, wait." a woman's voice interrupted Ace and Maximillian's chat right then and there. Margot is that woman. He appeared with a red face. "You don't intend to party without inviting me, do you?"

"Where might I do that" Ace said. He stood up and handed the gun to Margot. "After all, this is your party. I don't have the intention of dirtying my hands here."

"Awww, brother. You're very kind." Margot tiptoed and gave a light peck on Ace's cheek. "This is the most beautiful gift you've ever given me."

"Eh?" Max was stunned as he saw the figure that was about to execute him being replaced. "Don't you, Ace..."

"The one who wants you dead is me" Margot said with a smile. "It's only natural that I put your life away."

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